Hardware 3DS Original With 4.4, Broken Button

EvilGamerX · Oct 26, 2014

Hey everyone. I have an original 3DS that I have been using as my main 3DS with my Gateway. However recently the X button has stopped working. I have an XL that I can use my card on, but I don't want my 3DS to just become a brick. I know if I send it into Nintendo, they will update my firmware/send me a new 3DS with the most up to date firmware.

What's my best option to get my system working again while also keeping my cart useful. I have brought my system to a local repair shop and they couldn't figure out why the button wouldn't work. And since the system has my ambassador games, doing an emunand system transfer won't really solve any problem, seeing as the ambassador games don't work on emunand.

Thank for the help everyone!

SmileCitrus · Oct 26, 2014

If a professional repair shop wasn't able to solve the problem, then I'm not sure my advice will help, but generally when I receive a system with one or more unresponsive face buttons it's because of liquid damage and/or dirt accumulation.

Under most circumstances an unresponsive button can be fixed by simply cleaning the contacts on the motherboard. Here's a guide. It's not written to address your exact problem, but it does show you how to access the buttons.

If the button works but only when pressed very hard I peel the contacts up and clean beneath with 99% isopropyl alcohol. This is what a particularly bad case of dirt accumulation looks like:

Once you clean any gunk off, you can stick the contacts down in place again. If the contacts appear damaged it may be best to just replace them. To save yourself time and frustration, you can test that the buttons work before reassembling by holding the battery to its connector with one hand, powering the system on, and then loading a game that uses the X button. You can just press on the contact with your finger to test it. Before reassembling you should also check that the actual plastic buttons themselves don't have any dirt caked up around them. If they do, clean them off while you have the system open. Too much dirt can cause the buttons to feel sticky.

I'm just a hobbyist though. Any repair technician would most likely have already tried these things, so I'm not sure it would be of any use to you. It may sound a bit complicated, but it doesn't take long to clean out the buttons, so if a repair person had a look at it, he or she probably would have tried cleaning inside. Having said that, for virgin consoles never disassembled before this has always worked for me. So if you want to try to repair the issue yourself, it may be worth checking to see if dirt may be the cause of the problem.

EvilGamerX · Oct 26, 2014

Thanks for all of the tips, I had actually already purchased some replacement conductive pads, but I could not for the life of me figure out how to replace the old one on the motherboard. Is there a better explanation or is it just, scratch at it until it comes off?

SmileCitrus · Oct 26, 2014

No, you've got it exactly right. Just scratch at it carefully until it comes up. Just avoid any any tool that's too sharp. You don't want to scratch the motherboard itself. Your fingernail and maybe some toothpicks are all you really need.

falken · Nov 25, 2015

SmileCitrus said:
If a professional repair shop wasn't able to solve the problem, then I'm not sure my advice will help, but generally when I receive a system with one or more unresponsive face buttons it's because of liquid damage and/or dirt accumulation.

Under most circumstances an unresponsive button can be fixed by simply cleaning the contacts on the motherboard. Here's a guide. It's not written to address your exact problem, but it does show you how to access the buttons.

If the button works but only when pressed very hard I peel the contacts up and clean beneath with 99% isopropyl alcohol. This is what a particularly bad case of dirt accumulation looks like:

Once you clean any gunk off, you can stick the contacts down in place again. If the contacts appear damaged it may be best to just replace them. To save yourself time and frustration, you can test that the buttons work before reassembling by holding the battery to its connector with one hand, powering the system on, and then loading a game that uses the X button. You can just press on the contact with your finger to test it. Before reassembling you should also check that the actual plastic buttons themselves don't have any dirt caked up around them. If they do, clean them off while you have the system open. Too much dirt can cause the buttons to feel sticky.

I'm just a hobbyist though. Any repair technician would most likely have already tried these things, so I'm not sure it would be of any use to you. It may sound a bit complicated, but it doesn't take long to clean out the buttons, so if a repair person had a look at it, he or she probably would have tried cleaning inside. Having said that, for virgin consoles never disassembled before this has always worked for me. So if you want to try to repair the issue yourself, it may be worth checking to see if dirt may be the cause of the problem.

This was very helpful for me, cleaned some water damaged contacts and working 100% now. Thanks!!

Deleted User · Nov 25, 2015

falken said:
This was very helpful for me, cleaned some water damaged contacts and working 100% now. Thanks!!

Nice necrobump!

falken · Nov 25, 2015

Voxel Studios said:
Nice necrobump!

It was an old post indeed! But the only one I found when searching the net that showed how to do it. Wanted to thank the poster!

Pacheko17 · Nov 25, 2015

Voxel Studios said:
Nice necrobump!

Oy, the guy got help and just wanted to thank SmileCitrus.

Deleted User · Nov 25, 2015

Pacheko17 said:
Oy, the guy got help and just wanted to thank SmileCitrus.

Sorry. Sometimes people get the urge to do that, sometimes.

Hardware 3DS Original With 4.4, Broken Button

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